Binding and retrieval of omitted responses in complex response sequences

Human action control relies on the close interconnection of action and perception. This is possible through a binding mechanism that integrates distributed features of perceptual and action-related events within sensorimotor representations (event files). Encountering any one of these features later on can retrieve previously integrated features from memory and influence current action. Since actions are represented as their sensory consequences rather than their motor pattern, previous studies suggest that actions can be integrated into and retrieved from event representations even without being executed. However, it is still unclear whether binding and retrieval processes for omitted actions are highly automatic processes or if they can be influenced by higher-order strategies. Here we used sequential tasks to investigate whether binding and retrieval regarding omitted responses is affected by the time to prepare a response and by the likelihood of response omissions. Results indicate that binding and retrieval are highly adaptive processes that rely on the action planning of responses but operate beyond immediate action contingencies, facilitating efficient action control in future behavior.